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Subaru cuts annual profit outlook on strength of yen, typhoon impact

TOKYO — Subaru lowered its annual profit forecast on expectations of a stronger yen and the impact on production from a typhoon last month, driving its shares down as much as 4.5%. Japan's smallest major automaker, one fifth of which is owned by top-ranked Toyota, cut its forecast for operating profit to 220 billion yen ($2 billion) for the year ending March 2020, from a previous forecast of 260 billion yen. Subaru revised its forecast for the yen to average 107 versus the dollar over the period, from 110 previously. A stronger currency eats into profits because cars exported from Japan become more expensive and the value of earnings made overseas decreases. The United States is Subaru's biggest market, accounting for about 60% of overall sales. Typhoon Hagibis forced Subaru to halt production at its factories in Gumna, north of Tokyo, for more than a week in October due to supply chain disruptions. The stoppage, which lasted until Oct. 25, resulted in lost production of 11,000 vehicles, Chief Executive Officer Tomomi Nakamura told a briefing in Tokyo on Wednesday. Hagibis was the worst typhoon to hit Japan in decades, leaving at least 80 people dead, according to national broadcaster NHK. "We have restarted production, but we couldn't return to full capacity immediately," Nakamura said. "Some of our suppliers' factories were completely submerged." Subaru also said vehicle sales rose nearly 20% in the first half of the fiscal year compared with a year earlier, driven almost entirely by an improvement in the United States amid strong demand for the Forester SUV crossover. Subaru shares were down 1% at 3,102 yen by 0440 GMT, after touching a low of 2,995.5 yen earlier.

Lexus tops JD Power Vehicle Dependability Study again, Buick bests Toyota

It shouldn't surprise anyone, but Lexus has once again taken the top spot in JD Power's Vehicle Dependability Study. That'd be the Japanese luxury brand's fourth straight year at the top of table. The big news, though, is the rise of Buick. General Motor's near-premium brand beat out Toyota to take second place, with 110 problems per 100 vehicles compared to Toyota's 111 problems. Lexus owners only reported 89 problems per 100 vehicles. Besides Buick's three-position jump, Scion enjoyed a major improvement, jumping 13 positions from 2014. Ram and Mitsubishi made big gains, as well, moving up 11 and 10 positions, respectively. In terms of individual segments, GM and Toyota both excelled, taking home seven segment awards each. The study wasn't good news for all involved, though. A number of popular automakers finished below the industry average of 147 problems per 100 vehicles, including Subaru, (157PP100), Volkswagen (165PP100), Ford/Hyundai (188PP100 each) and Mini (193PP100). The biggest losers (by a tremendous margin, we might add) were Land Rover and Fiat, recording 258 and 273 problems per 100 vehicles. The next closest brand was Jeep, with 197PP100. While the Vehicle Dependability Study uses the same measurement system as the Initial Quality Survey, the two metrics analyze very different things. The VDS looks at problems experienced by original owners of model year 2012 vehicles over the past 12 months, while the oft-quoted IQS focuses on problems in the first 90 days of new-vehicle ownership. Like the IQS, though, the VDS has a rather broad definition of what a problem is. Because of that, a low score from JD Power is no guarantee of extreme unreliability, so much as just poor design. In this most recent study, the two most reported problems focused on Bluetooth connectivity and the voice-command systems. The former leaves plenty of room for user error due to poor design (particularly true of the Bluetooth systems on the low-scoring Fords, Volkswagens and Subarus), while the second is something JD Power has already confirmed as being universally terrible. That makes means that while these studies are important, they shouldn't be taken as gospel when it comes to automotive reliability. News Source: JD PowerImage Credit: Copyright 2015 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL Buick Fiat Ford GM Hyundai Jeep Land Rover Lexus MINI Mitsubishi RAM Scion Subaru Toyota Volkswagen Auto Repair Ownership study

2017 Subaru Impreza starts at $19,215 and comes with a five-speed manual

Subaru released pricing for the all-new 2017 Impreza sedan and hatchback, which were unveiled at this year's New York Auto Show. With the $820 destination and delivery fee, the 2.0i Impreza sedan with a five-speed manual starts at $19,215 (the CVT is an extra $1,000 on both body styles) while the hatchback costs $19,715 – $500 extra regardless of trim. Both the four- and five-door Imprezas represent a price increase of about $100 over the previous model. The range-topping Limited trims, though, are an additional $1,500 from the previous year. The Impreza sedan and hatchback are available in four different trims including 2.0i, 2.0i Premium, 2.0i Sport, and 2.0i Limited. The 2017 Impreza rides on Subaru's new Global Platform, a modular platform that will underpin all of the automaker's future vehicles. Besides the new platform, the new Impreza gets a host of standard features, which include: a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, power windows, power door locks, and a tilt and telescoping steering column. Subaru's faithful Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive system returns, as does the 2.0-liter Boxer engine. The motor, though, produces 152 horsepower, up from 148 horsepower, thanks to direct injection and other unnamed enhancements. With the release of the Impreza's pricing, Subaru also confirmed a five-speed manual transmission will be offered on the base 2.0i models, as well as the 2.0i Sport trims. The 2.0i Premium and top-of-the-line 2.0i Limited models only come with a CVT. The 2.0i Sport trim, which sounds like the most enthusiast-oriented option, adds sportier suspension tuning, Active Torque Vectoring, and 18-inch wheels. The 2.0i Limited trims, while carrying a substantial increase over last year's model, are much more opulent with LED headlights, a leather-trimmed interior with contrast stitching, automatic climate control, and an optional Harman/Kardon audio system. The 2.0i Sedan with the CVT is the most fuel-efficient model with an EPA-estimated 28 miles per gallon in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. Those figures are a one-mile per gallon increase over the previous 2.0i model. Imprezas with a CVT will be available later this year, while vehicles with the five-speed manual transmission will go on sale early next year. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2017 Subaru Impreza Pricing Subaru Car Buying Hatchback Sedan pricing